Phobias

What is a phobia

• anxiety disorder which interferes with daily living

• irrational fear causing avoidance of the feared object

What 3 categories are phobias categories into

Specific phobias- phobia of an object, animal e.g. fear of needles

Social anxiety- phobia of social situations e.g. public speaking, public toilets

Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside or in a public place

Anxiety- Emotional (feelings) characteristics of Phobias

• Uncomfortable high arousal state that prevents relaxation or positive emotion.

• Thought is focused on a future encounter with the phobia

Fear- emotional (feelings) characteristics of phobias

• Intense emotional state of panic linked to flight or fight response when presented with the phobia.

• It’s more intense, but last for less time than anxiety

Irrational beliefs- cognitive (thoughts) characters of phobias

• Person overstates the potential danger of phobia or importance of social situation

• E.g. person with fear of dogs may think a dog is out to get them

Reduced cognitive capacity- cognitive (thoughts) characteristics of phobias

• person focuses attention on phobic object to extent that it interfere with other tasks

Avoidance- behavioural (actions) characteristics of Phobias

• behavioural adaptions like crossing street are made to avoid encouraging of phobia

Panic- behavioural (actions) characteristics of phobias

• uncontrollable, physical response of screaming, crying, hyperventilating

Failure to function- behavioural (actions) characteristics of phobias

• inability to conduct normal behaviour due to excessive thoughts or avoidance